| LIVES OF THE NOBLE | | |
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MARCUS | them: Antonius ramped of her necke, and kissed her. We | |
ANTONIUS | have told you this tale for examples sake onely, and so | |
| could we also tell you of many such like as these. Nowe | |
| when Caesar was returned from his last warre in Spayne, all | |
| the chiefest nobilitie of the citie road many dayes jorney | |
| from Rome to meete him, where Caesar made marvelous | |
| much of Antonius, above all the men that came unto | |
| him. For he alwayes tooke him into his coche with him, | |
| through out all Italy: and behind him, Brutus Albinus, and | |
| Octavius, the sonne of his Nece, who afterwards was called | |
| Caesar, and became Emperor of Rome long time after. So | |
Caesar, and | Caesar being afterwards chosen Consul the fift time, he im- | |
Antonius, | mediatly chose Antonius his colleague and companion: and | |
Consuls. | desired by deposing him selfe of his Consulship, to make | |
| Dolabella Consul in his roome, and had already moved | |
| it to the Senate. But Antonius did stowtly withstand it, | |
| and openly reviled Dolabella in the Senate: and Dolabella | |
| also spared him as litle. Thereuppon Caesar being ashamed | |
| of the matter he let it alone. Another time also when | |
| Caesar attempted againe to substitute Dolabella Consul in his | |
| place, Antonius cryed out, that the signes of the birdes | |
| were against it: so that at length Caesar was compelled to give | |
| him place, and to let Dolabella alone, who was marvelously | |
| offended with him. Now in truth, Caesar made no great | |
| reckoning of either of them both. For it is reported that | |
| Caesar aunswered one that did accuse Antonius and Dolabella | |
| unto him for some matter of conspiracie: Tushe said he, they | |
| be not those fat fellowes and fine comed men that I feare, | |
| but I mistrust rather these pale and leane men, meaning | |
| by Brutus and Cassius, who afterwards conspired his death, | |
Antonius | and slue him. Antonius unwares afterwards, gave Caesars | |
unwittingly | enemies just occasion and culler* to doe as they did: as you | |
gave Caesars | shall heare. The Romanes by chaunce celebrated the feast | |
enemies | called Lupercalia, and Caesar being apparelled in his triumph- | |
occasion to | ing robe, was set in the Tribune where they use to make | |
conspire | their orations to the people, and from thence did behold | |
against him. | the sport of the runners. The manner of this running | |
| was this. On that day there are many young men of noble | |
| house, and those specially that be chiefe Officers for that | |
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